Allergies

What is an allergy?

An allergy is an abnormally heightened sensitivity to a substance (allergen) that is brought into contact with the body. Allergens contact the body either
by ingestion in the intestine, the lungs or absorption through the skin.

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There is such an incredible number of allergens that they are almost unlimited, they may be:-

drug induced

from pollen and moulds

dandruff

bacteria

foods

smoke and pollution

and the list goes on.

In some people, these allergic reactions occur continuously.

By strengthening the body's metabolism, part or complete mitigation of a body's allergy caused hypersensitivity can occur. We, therefore, need to attack
the cause of the allergies at their roots by:

Improving digestion

Balancing the resources of your body's immune system

Removing damage-causing agents such as free radicals

Below is in-depth information related to some different types of allergies. The best approach towards allergy reduction and better health is to consult
with one of our naturopaths for investigation, identification and treatment of specific allergies.

Allergies - Undigested protein

The protein we eat must be broken down in the gastrointestinal tract before being absorbed. Occasionally, protein chains manage to seep through the intestinal
wall intact (leaky gut).

This allergic response can cause; reddening, swelling and flushing of the skin, this occurs when the protein comes into contact with highly sensitive tissue
hormones called kinins. The kinins respond by tearing down the walls of neighbouring mast cells to release the substances contained inside such as
histamine, serotonin, and heparin.

Histamine, in particular, creates symptoms that range from mild fatigue, watery eyes, and blocked up nose to painful suppurating rashes and aching muscles.
It may even lower your blood pressure; restrict the movement of blood or cause slower muscle contractions. This constrictive process often causes sore
back muscles and the difficulty that asthmatics have in inhaling.

The inflammation that mast cells cause can be particularly harmful if it happens around the nerves. Kinin inflammation can even affect the brain, leading
to headaches, migraine, nausea, lethargy, and in extreme cases schizophrenia.

Allergic reaction

Without adequate levels of digestive chemicals to break down into their constituent amino acids, the protein chains either sit in the intestines and putrefy
or begin to seep through the intestinal wall (leaky gut). Once this happens they are quickly absorbed into the blood.

The blood's circulatory system distributes food so efficiently that the offending proteins that escape from the intestines will soon come into contact
with the kinins, reacting almost anywhere in the body. As well as kinin and mast cell reactions, the intestinal wall itself often responds to contact
with these renegade proteins by secreting an extra layer of mucus to protect itself, often leading to symptoms such as diarrhoea.

Rather than suppressing these allergic symptoms, the use of amino acids and co-factors work by attacking the cause of the allergies.

For most people, to prevent protein seepage into the blood, you may need to raise your stomach acid levels, by introducing supplements of glutamic acid,
hydrochloric acid and histidine.

These amino acids stimulate stomach acid release and raise the levels of pepsin (a stomach enzyme), which are needed to break down protein foods into
chemical nutrients.

Glutamic acid also helps ease the stress on the pancreas, the gland that manufactures all the digestive enzymes. Two enzymes that are especially important
- chymotrypsin and boxypeptase, reduce inflammation caused by the kinins.

So support your pancreas by ensuring that it has all the necessary raw materials it needs to do its job (a full complement of amino acids) or consider
taking a supplement. Also, it may be worthwhile taking the amino acid phenylalanine, as it is the precursor or adrenaline and noradrenaline, which
can help to stimulate your physical and mental being.

Specific Therapists

Tina White

Tina has over 30 year’s clinical practice in natural therapies. As a practitioner in Naturopathy and Acupuncture, Tina has remarkable insight coupled with a caring nature and is a beacon of hope for those she serves.